Khartoum: Sudanese Ambassador to Germany Ilham Ibrahim Mohamed Ahmed addressed the opening session of the 16th International Conference on Nubian Studies, held in Munich from September 7 to 12, 2026, with broad participation by scholars, researchers, and specialists in Nubian studies from around the world.According to Sudan News Agency, Ambassador Ilham commended the initiative of the International Society for Nubian Studies and Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich in organizing the conference. She emphasized the significance of Nubian studies in introducing the history and heritage of the region and its contributions to human civilization. Highlighting Nubia's rich cultural and civilizational landscape, she traced its history from Kerma, Kush, and Meroë through the Christian kingdoms to contemporary Nubian communities.The ambassador also addressed the exceptional circumstances facing Sudan due to the war, detailing the risks, damage, and systematic destruction inflicted on Sudanese cultural heritage by the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia. This destruction includes damage to museums, archaeological sites, archives, libraries, and historic buildings. She stressed that protecting Sudan's heritage is a shared national and humanitarian responsibility as it forms an integral part of the world's cultural heritage.Ambassador Ilham called for strengthening international cooperation and technical support for Sudanese efforts to protect cultural heritage. She emphasized prioritizing recovery projects and the rehabilitation and restoration of damaged museums and archaeological sites, intensifying capacity-building programs for personnel in the field, and enhancing efforts to prevent illicit trafficking in antiquities and recover stolen archaeological artifacts. She underscored the importance of partnerships among Sudanese and international institutions, universities, museums, and archaeologists in protecting and preserving heritage for future generations.The conference also featured a video address by Dr. Mahmoud Suleiman, Director-General of the National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums, who reviewed the challenges and damage inflicted on Sudanese antiquities, museums, and cultural heritage as a result of the war. He highlighted national efforts to protect the heritage and secure its collections and commended the role of the Armed Forces and personnel of the National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums. Dr. Suleiman called for enhancing international cooperation and support to protect Sudanese heritage, rehabilitate its institutions, and combat illicit trafficking in cultural property.The 16th International Conference on Nubian Studies sees broad participation by scholars, researchers, and specialists in Nubian studies from around the world, alongside representatives of the National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums, Sudanese academic institutions, and several Sudanese scholars and researchers. They are presenting scientific papers and research on various aspects of Nubian studies and the c hallenges facing Sudanese cultural heritage under current circumstances.
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